ESSAYS Archives - Page 5 of 6

The Art And Joy Of Busting Someone’s Balls

by brendan on June 25, 2015

There is no class in high school or college on how to insult a friend…

Finding A Way

by brendan on June 11, 2015

Jim Harris can walk again—which is a big deal because a little over six months…

Is Your Adventure Story Epic Enough?

by brendan on May 21, 2015

Do you find yourself reading stories about adventures in outdoor magazines and websites and feeling…

The World Needs Dreamers, Too

by brendan on May 7, 2015

I have known my friend Jayson for 15 years—that’s him on my back in this…

Hot Sauce Is Appropriate For Your Situation

by brendan on April 30, 2015

Hey, have you ever caught yourself saying to someone, “I put hot sauce on everything,”…

15 About 15th: A Few Stories From Colfax Avenue

by brendan on April 16, 2015

When I moved back to Denver in May 2014, I decided I wanted to tell…

Dear Loveland Ski Area:

by brendan on April 2, 2015

A few months ago, I walked into your season pass office and filled out a…

Make Yourself A Damn Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich

by brendan on March 26, 2015

When’s the last time you made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and put it…

Another Partly-Irish St. Patrick’s Day

by brendan on March 19, 2015

I made a phone call to my grandmother every March 17th for a decade and…

The Art Of ‘Getting Old’

by brendan on February 26, 2015

Frank led up the first pitch of El Matador as I fed out rope, the…

Skiing: A Bumpy Love Story

by brendan on February 12, 2015

I leaned on my poles at the intersection of Why Not and Vagabond, green and…

The Dawn Wall And The Idea of ‘Wasting Time’

by brendan on January 22, 2015

A week ago, two guys finished climbing an astronomically difficult 3,000-foot route on El Capitan as…

Thanks, Eddie Vedder

by brendan on January 8, 2015

Eddie Vedder turned 50 the day before Christmas Eve, as musicians and regular folks often…

In Praise Of The Real Conversation

by brendan on December 30, 2014

I scrolled through my iPhone photos from the past year and found a couple shots…

Considering Gratitude

by brendan on December 11, 2014

Mike and I arrived at Lincoln Falls to see a dozen people spread across the…

How To Be A Writer: One Story

by brendan on November 20, 2014

Every few weeks, I get an e-mail or a Facebook message from someone who has…

Notes From A #VanLife

by brendan on October 30, 2014

One Saturday last May, I slid a key into the lock on a scrappy little…

The Selfie Stick And The Game Of Life

by brendan on October 16, 2014

One day last August at a popular tourist destination, I noticed as a guy walked…

The Definition Of Adventure

by brendan on September 25, 2014

As I descended the corniced summit ridge, I saw a climber coming up the same…

It Turns Out You Can Buy Happiness

by brendan on September 18, 2014

A couple weeks ago, Alastair Humphreys told me about the Explore feature on Kayak.com that…

Those Who Can Change Lives, Teach

by brendan on September 4, 2014

In August 2011, my old 7th-grade Geography teacher, Mr. Button, sent me a message saying…

Dear Helmets:

by brendan on August 7, 2014

Dear helmets: You guys are my favorite hats. Sure, other headwear may be more stylish,…

The Benefits Of Discomfort

by brendan on July 24, 2014

About a year ago, psychologist and author Kelly McGonigal gave a TED Talk on “How…

The Toughest, Goofiest Lady I Knew, 1927-2014

by brendan on July 3, 2014

My grandmother died at 6:07 p.m. June 24, in an intensive care unit room full…

The Lost Art Of Dreaming Over Maps

by brendan on June 19, 2014

I was talking to my friend Mark about mountain biking a while back when he…

Don’t Focus On The Dog Shit

by brendan on June 5, 2014

In the span of a few minutes yesterday morning, I read about a shotgun-wielding man…

Hiking Is Cool

by brendan on May 29, 2014

Do you ever think hiking doesn’t get much respect anymore? Wait, better question: Remember that…